VCE English Language (Year 11) · Unit 1 — Language and Communication · 14m read

What Is Language? Nature and Functions

English Language treats language like a scientist treats nature: you observe, describe and explain. This first topic sets up the big questions — what language is and what we use it for.

Learning objective: Explain the nature and functions of human language and how it differs from other communication systems.

By the end of this lesson you can:

• I can describe properties of human language.
• I can identify functions of language.
• I can distinguish spoken and written modes.

Language is a toolbox. You use different tools for different jobs — a hammer for nails, a screwdriver for screws. People choose different language for different jobs too: to inform, persuade, bond or entertain.

What Is Language? Nature and Functions

PROPERTIES OF HUMAN LANGUAGE:
• ARBITRARY — no natural link between a word and its meaning.
• RULE-GOVERNED — systematic patterns at every level.
• PRODUCTIVE (creative) — infinite new sentences from finite parts.
• DISPLACEMENT — talk about things not here or now.
• CULTURALLY TRANSMITTED — learned from others.

FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE:
• Informative / referential, expressive, directive, social (phatic), poetic, metalingual.
• Most texts serve several functions at once.

MODES:
• SPOKEN — spontaneous, prosody (stress, intonation), fillers, overlap, feedback.
• WRITTEN — planned, edited, punctuation, denser vocabulary.
• Mixed modes: text messages, social media posts.

DESCRIPTIVE vs PRESCRIPTIVE:
• DESCRIPTIVE — describes how people actually use language (the approach of this subject).
• PRESCRIPTIVE — says how language "should" be used.

| Function (Halliday-style) | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Referential/informational | Convey information | "The train leaves at 8." |
| Expressive | Show feelings | "Ugh, I'm exhausted!" |
| Directive | Get someone to act | "Close the door." |
| Phatic | Build/maintain relationships | "How's it going?" |
| Poetic/aesthetic | Play with language | Rhymes, puns |
| Metalinguistic | Talk about language | "What does 'yeet' mean?" |

Key ideas at a glance

• Language is rule-governed: Systematic.
• Language is arbitrary: Words and meanings are conventional.
• Language is creative: Infinite new sentences.
• Language is social: Shaped by context.

Worked example (Easy)

"Nice weather today, eh?" said to a stranger at a bus stop. Identify its main function.

1. Content. Little new information.
2. Purpose. Build rapport and politeness.

Answer: Phatic (social) function.

Worked example (Medium)

Identify the functions in: "Hey mate! Can you grab the milk? Thanks heaps."

1. "Hey mate!". Phatic — builds rapport.
2. "Can you grab the milk?". Directive — request.
3. "Thanks heaps.". Phatic/expressive — politeness and gratitude.

Answer: Phatic, directive and expressive functions.

Common mistakes

• Judging "correct" English This subject is descriptive. Fix: Describe and explain usage, do not judge it.
• One function only Texts often have several functions. Fix: Identify the main and secondary functions.
• Assuming one utterance has one function Many are multifunctional. Fix: Discuss primary and secondary functions.

Prescriptivism vs descriptivism

Prescriptivists state how language *should* be used ("Never split an infinitive"). Descriptivists describe how language *is* actually used without judging.

VCE English Language is largely descriptive — you analyse real language use and the attitudes people hold about it.

Practice questions

1. Talking about last week's game shows which property of language?

   1. Arbitrariness
   2. Displacement
   3. Productivity
   4. Duality

   (1 marks)

2. Give two features typical of spontaneous speech.

   (2 marks)

3. "How's your weekend?" mainly serves which function?

   1. Referential
   2. Phatic
   3. Metalinguistic
   4. Poetic

   (1 marks)

4. Descriptivism:

   1. Prescribes rules
   2. Describes how language is used
   3. Bans slang
   4. Only studies writing

   (1 marks)

5. Explain what it means for language to be arbitrary.

   (2 marks)

Summary

• Language is arbitrary, rule-governed, productive.
• Texts serve multiple functions.
• The subject takes a descriptive approach.
• Language is systematic, arbitrary, creative and social.